More than half of UK small businesses have used illegal software

However, the illegal software has left them open to security threats & liability claims.

More than one in two (52%) small businesses in the UK have either bought or downloaded illegal software - according to new research. And yet for many of those small companies, the experience of buying illegal software proved a risky business:

Over two fifths (41%) believe their details were used in identity theft.

Over a quarter (28%) had their credit card cloned

41% said their product did not arrive or arrived late

A third (33%) claimed additional money was debited from their account

Another 41% complained that they had no way of directly contacting the seller Furthermore, 88 per cent of small businesses polled in the BSA research believe that illegal software use opens them up to liability concerns, as a result of buying a product which fails health and safety compliance, causes injury, inconvenience to customers, inconvenience to staff, lost revenue etc.